Your Story

You know how it feels when people ask you about your story and you feel like you have nothing spectacular to share? I'm right there with you. When you are in a group at church and everyone is sharing their testimony and your coming up next. You are thinking to yourself, "What should I say?", "I have nothing mind blowing to share like some of these other people did". I've been there and I got through it. It wasn't easy, telling my story. My story isn't perfect and to some people it might not be much, but to the right person it can mean a lot.

Everyone's story is different. Some may be more colorful than others. That's because we are all different and we all make different choices, therefore we all have different stories to share. It doesn't matter if you think yours is off the charts or if its just a humble little story of how you got saved when you were a kid, because you were raised in church your whole life.

On the other hand some people think their story is to broken. Let me tell you, a lot  of the most beautiful stories come out of the rubble and ashes. Your story may be like this. You think your story is so messed up that no one wants to hear it, but in reality it needs to be told. Their are people who want to hear your story and who need to hear your story. It doesn't matter how crazy or messed up it may seem, to the right person it could be what they have been waiting to hear. What they have been wanting to hear.

So with all that being said, I want to tell you my story...

            I was raised in church my whole life, ever since I can remember. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at a young age. My teenage years were when things got a little bumpy. I secretly faced depression and had suicidal thoughts. I felt alone, broken, and ashamed. I didn't feel loved or wanted. I guess you can say I let the devil have a field day with my emotions, because for a while he did get the best of me.Then I realized that writing was my outlet, so I began to just write. I wrote poems, I wrote about things going on in my life, and how I felt. Then one day I wrote the poem "Broken with Remedy". I think that day is when I finally broke through my depression and let God take control of my life again. I realized that I was Broken and Jesus was my remedy!
           A few years down the road, I met the most amazing man I would ever know, who is now my husband! We are Youth Pastors (just like God called me to be, I felt the call when I was 18-19) and he is the Family Pastor of our church. I never would of thought I'd be a Pastors wife!
           I do still face depression sometimes, but I have my savior, my remedy to stand by my side! He gets me through it.

Jesus can get you through whatever it may be you are going through right now. Even if it looks impossible, Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" and Luke 1:37 " For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Remember that your story is beautiful and it is worth being told.
 

Sweeter Than Honey

I, just like many of you, go through my phases. This phase in particular being reading my bible and praying on a everyday basis. I want to do it but I just seem to busy or I'm doing something else I really want to do (like reading a book, looking at things online, etc.). When I finally hit a point where I do finally pick up my bible and read it, I usually get blown away. I feel as if the Lord is telling me "See you need this everyday! Not just a few times a month!". I feel guilty. I feel like a bad example. I mean I know people can't look at me and tell if I read my bible or not, but being in Youth Ministry and telling the kids to read their bible and then I don't read my own. I feel pretty low.

So I picked up my bible today and felt like reading a Psalm. I read Psalm 119:89-104. It spoke to me about many things. The one big thing that stuck out the most was verse 103 "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!". There were a lot of other verses in my reading that stuck out too, but this one got to me.

God's word is sweet! Sweeter than honey! Sweeter than anything you can imagine! Which made me realize how much I need it. God's word is our spiritual food, if we don't eat of it everyday we begin to fail in our walk with him. We do need his word everyday, even if its a few verses. We do need to study the scriptures, to gain wisdom. So when this wicked world comes against us we will be ready. So when the devil tries to tempt us we know we can and will prevail.

I hope this helps you realize how much we need God's word. Maybe you will even pick your bible up and start reading it after this. I pray for you and for myself that we will have a fire inside of us set ablaze. That we will all grow closer to God.

 

　

　

Words Possess Great Power

Words are transforming. They can affect us in very deep ways. I've learned throughout life that words can harm or heal you. I also learned that you need to use your words very carefully, think before you speak. Its still not easy for me to do that. I know sometimes I just want to open my mouth and let the words fly right out, not giving any thought to what I'm saying. I'm pretty sure you have those moments too. Just recently I've come to realize how poisonous words can be. The lord laid it on my heart to write about it. So here we are.

 

Forget everything you've learned about words and how they affect you and others. Everyone knows the saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me". Here's a shocker, that saying is a lie! Words will hurt you! Words can rip you apart from the inside out. Tearing away at everything you have until there is nothing left. Then you are left desolate and vulnerable, almost ready to accept anything. On the other hand words can be uplifting and kind. Building you up and encouraging you. The Bible speaks very strongly about words. In the sense of our tongues.

 

 James 3:2-6 tells us: " For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.  If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell".

 

Also in Ephesian 4:29  tells us: "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear".

 

These are two good scriptures to go by when you are thinking about your words.

 

I want to share a few examples with you to show you how powerful words are.

 

Genesis 1:3 "Then God said let there be light, and there was light". God spoke this world into existence, he transformed what was dark and without form into the earth we see and live on today! He did all of this with using just his words!

 

When Jesus died on the cross and he shouted "It is finished" in John 19:30. When Jesus said "It is Finished" he was done. He had taken on all our sins and died for all of us, so that one day we would have a place in Heaven. He did this so that when we come to him and accept him as our Lord and Savior our old lives are finished. All our sins are gone, they are finished! 

 

Here is a verse we should live by when it comes to words, Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer".

 

 So the next time you are about to speak to someone remember to use your words wisely. Is what you are going to say to them going to build them up or tear them down?

 

Never forget words are very powerful, they are transforming.